Abstract:
An apparatus for manufacturing an annular or semi-annular composite component having a circumferentially-extending base and a flange, the apparatus including: a loom for weaving a woven preform of fibre reinforcement material for the composite component; a rotatable mandrel configured to receive and draw the woven preform through the loom for weaving; and a guide disposed between the loom and the rotatable mandrel, configured so that a woven preform drawn by the rotatable mandrel along a guide path under tension engages the guide to transition to a flanged profile at a lip of the guide before being received on the mandrel.
Abstract:
A balloon wrapping apparatus is disclosed by which a balloon can be accurately positioned and inserted in relation to a pleating section. The balloon wrapping apparatus for wrapping a balloon provided at a distal portion of an elongated shaft includes: a pleating section that forms the balloon with wing shapes; a folding section that folds the wing shapes formed in the balloon along a circumferential direction; a support base that supports a portion other than the distal portion of the shaft, and that makes the distal portion of the shaft insertable into the pleating section and the folding section; and a core metal member to be inserted in the shaft. The core metal member is inserted in the shaft from a distal end position of the balloon to at least the proximal side of a proximal end position of the balloon.
Abstract:
A bicycle assembly can include a main frame having a bottom bracket area to receive a bottom bracket. The bottom bracket area can be made of carbon fiber with one or more embedded seat blanks to serve as bearing surfaces within the bottom bracket area. The disks may be machined to a high tolerance to receive a bottom bracket.
Abstract:
A method of wrapping a plurality of mandrels with a composite material can include rotating each mandrel at a rotational speed; translating each mandrel at a translation speed; positioning each mandrel back to back such that an aft face of a preceding mandrel is approximate to a forward face of a trailing mandrel; and sequentially wrapping each mandrel with the composite material in a helical orientation.
Abstract:
An impregnation mandrel for production of gas turbine casings made from composite material, the mandrel including: an annular wall with a profile of an outer surface that corresponds to that of an internal surface of the casing to be produced; two side plates, with profiles that correspond to those of external casing flanges to be produced; and a removable device for clamping a layer having a fibrous texture, which is wound around the mandrel.
Abstract:
A method and system for fabricating a geometrically versatile composite lattice support structure having a seamless three-dimensional configuration. The lattice support structure is created by forming two or more cross supports, such as helical, longitudinal, circumferential and/or lateral cross supports, which intersect to form a plurality of multi-layered nodes. The lattice support structure may be designed without any protrusions extending outward from the overall geometry, thus enabling efficient tooling, and thus enabling ease of mass production. The lattice support structure may comprise a completely circumferentially closed geometry, such as a cylinder, ellipse, airfoil, etc. The method for fabricating the lattice support structure comprises laying up a fiber material, in the presence of resin, within rigid channels of a rigid mold, thus creating a green, uncured three-dimensional geometry of unconsolidated cross supports and multi-layered nodes where these intersect. Subjecting these to a curing system functions to consolidate the cross supports and multi-layered nodes to produce the composite lattice support structure.
Abstract:
A mobile platform personnel berth unit and a method for creating the mobile platform personnel berth unit are provided. A male mandrel is created defining an inner mold line surface of the berth unit. The male mandrel is overlayed with one or more layers of filament strips. The filament layers are thermally cured to create an integrated structural member. The male mandrel is then removed from the structural member. The structural member is profile shaped to create a semi-finished berth unit having a top, a bottom and a pair of integral side panels. Additional entrance and back panels as well as access panels and connecting hardware are then added to complete the berth unit.
Abstract:
A method for making a squeeze loop includes step of preparing pre-preg yarns and wrapping the yarns to a mandrel; step of solidifying the yarns and removing the mandrel from the yarns which forms a tube; step of cutting the tube into loops, and step of wrapping the loops with an outer layer made of flexible material.
Abstract:
Integrally stiffened and formed, load carrying structures comprising a plurality of elongated thin-walled tubes placed co-extensively in a complementary side-by-side fashion which together form a hollow structure having a desired external contour. Integral skins forming the external and internal surfaces of the structure cooperatively therewith. The structure can be formed with an underlying internal support member spanning the interior of the load carrying structure, thereby connecting opposite sides of the structure together. Also, each of the tubes are wound with fibers in controlled orientations generally paralleling the direction of the loads applied to the tubes to optimize the strength to weight ratio of the tubes.
Abstract:
A method for facilitating removal of a mandrel in the manufacture of hollow composite structures. A mandrel of substantially constant diameter is selected having a composition and coefficient of thermal expansion sufficient to enable it to expand when subjected to an elevated temperature. The mandrel is preheated to at least a predetermined minimum elevated temperature to thereby expand the mandrel radially outwardly. Composite material is wound around the mandrel while the mandrel has a temperature of at least the predetermined minimum elevated temperature. The composite material is then cured using any suitable curing technique. When the composite material has been cured, the mandrel is cooled to contract the mandrel radially inwardly, and the mandrel is removed from the composite material. This method of manufacture and removal is so effective that mandrels of constant diameter have been removed by hand from composite tubes of thirty feet in length.